The Application of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in ED Intubations and Airway Access: A Brief Systematic Review

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson Health NJ, Stratford, NJ, USA

²Program Director, Emergency Medicine, Jefferson NJ/Rowan University SOM, USA

*Corresponding Author: James Espinosa, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson Health NJ, 18 East Laurel Road, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA. Email: [email protected]

Received Date: June 16, 2023

Publication Date: July 10, 2023

Citation: Wheeler F, Espinosa J, Lucerna A. (2023). The Application of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in ED Intubations and Airway Access: A Brief Systematic Review. Mathews J Emergency Med. 8(4):57.

Copyright: Wheeler F, et al. © (2023)

ABSTRACT

Intubation is an essential procedure performed on a routine basis in the Emergency Department. Unsuccessful intubations can be associated with deleterious outcomes. A systematic review was performed to investigate the accuracy of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in successful Endotracheal Tube (ET) tube confirmation, dynamically in ultrasound guided intubation and in identification of the cricothyroid membrane.  This review demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for ultrasound confirmation of ET tube placement, high success rate in ultrasound-guided intubation, and lower than expected accuracy in identifying the cricothyroid membrane. Ultrasonography should be considered for ET tube confirmation in patients in cardiac arrest and future applications of ultrasound may include dynamic guiding during the process of intubation.

Keywords: Airway access, Endotracheal tube confirmation with ultrasound, ultrasound guided intubation